John Terry retirement is disappointing, says England boss Roy Hodgson

England manager Roy Hodgson says he ‘reluctantly’ accepted John Terry’s retirement from international football and said he was ‘disappointed’ by the Chelsea defender’s decision to quit the Three Lions.

Bye bye: John Terry retires from international football (Picture: Action Images)

Hodgson said: ‘I am of course disappointed to lose a player of John’s international experience and exceptional ability.

‘I have enjoyed a good relationship with John during my time as England manager and I reluctantly accept his decision.’

Roy Hodgson (right) says he had a good rapport with John Terry (Picture: Getty Images)

The Chelsea captain is currently involved in a disciplinary hearing over a charge of improper conduct following last season’s racism row with QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.

But on Sunday night he unexpectedly retired from international football, claiming the FA have made his position within the England team ‘untenable’.

Horne responded by saying that is not the case, although he expressed regret at Terry’s decision.

‘It’s disappointing. I don’t see how we made his position untenable,’ said Horne.

‘It’s something that happened in a match – it shouldn’t be taking a year to resolve but we feel we’re reaching a conclusion on that.’

Terry’s hearing with the FA began this morning and expected to last several days.

The 31-year-old said in a statement last night: ‘I am making this statement today in advance of the hearing of the FA disciplinary charge because I feel the FA, in pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, have made my position with the national team untenable.’

Terry denies the charge of using a racist slur against QPR defender Ferdinand, and has vowed to clear his name after being found not guilty of a racially-aggravated public order offence at Westminster magistrate’ court in July.

The Football Association’s general secretary Alex Horne had earlier hit back at Terry’s claim that his position in the England team ‘had been made untenable’ by the decision to proceed with the racism case against him.

‘I don’t see how we’ve made it untenable – they’re two very separate processes,’ said Horne.’It’s something that happened in a match between QPR and Chelsea – it shouldn’t be taking a year to resolve but we feel we’re reaching a conclusion on that.’That’s a very different process, from my perspective, from our England procedures.’They sit in different compartments and I could separate the two in my mind.’But, unfortunately it doesn’t look like he could.’